Why confined spaces are dangerousUnlike other hazards ag/hort workers are faced with, the concern with a confined space is not an injury that a worker can recover from, but a fatality. Confined spaces contain hazards that will not only injure a worker, but will often
take his or her life. This is why precautionary measures such as gas monitoring and ventilating the
space should be taken.

More specifically, confined spaces are dangerous because:
• Certain gases such as methane may be produced in confined spaces.
These gases displace oxygen in the air you breathe.
• Cold storage rooms often have the oxygen pumped out of them to help preserve foods.
• Gases such as carbon monoxide, methane and hydrogen sulfide may build up to toxic levels.
• Some of these gases are odorless, so you won't even know they are there.
• The buildup of these gases can easily be ignited, causing a fire or an explosion.
• Confined spaces also have many physical hazards. These include falling objects,
wet surfaces, sloping sides and loose material that can break under your weight.

Protecting you and your workersSome steps you should take in protecting yourselves and others in confined spaces are to:Determine what harmful contaminants are present in the confined space. Many confined
spaces have multiple harmful gases.
• Monitor the space for harmful gases and vapors before you decide to go in.
• If harmful gases are present, ventilate the space, then monitor again.
• Monitor continuously any time someone is in the confined space.
• Always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Always turn off, tag and "lockout" any energy sources such as augers or mixing blades so
that no one can restart the equipment and injure a worker in the space.
• Have appropriate rescue procedures in place should something go wrong.
• Have workers who enter the space wear a full-body harness and lifeline so he or she can
be easily rescued from the space without another person having to enter and risk injury.
• If a rescuer does have to enter, make sure he or she has appropriate respiratory protection
like a SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus).
• Have an attendant outside any time someone has entered the space.